Skip to content
Menu

The Old Rectory, Farnborough

8 acre garden with a series of immaculately tended garden rooms. Herbaceous borders, arboretum, secret garden, roses, vegetables, pool, bog gardens and woodland, with an explosion of rare and interesting plants, beautifully combined for colour and texture. Stunning views and once home to John Betjeman (memorial window by John Piper in church). Specialist plants and home-made preserves for sale.

Owner Info

  • Mrs Michael Todhunter
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough
The Old Rectory, Farnborough

About The Old Rectory, Farnborough

At nearly 250 metre high and despite being prey to winds from the downs, this renowned 8 acre garden has been created over more than 50 years, helped by the original planting of large trees and hedges and with magnificent views.

The house is exceptionally pretty and sits at the heart of the garden. Deep parallel herbaceous borders are backed by yew hedges. The planting in front of the house is subtle and effective, the smaller areas have been laid out for sun or shade loving plants. Woodland contrasts with shrubs and lawns, and the fast-growing arboretum now contains over 150 trees.

The swimming pool is surrounded by a large hydrangea sargentiana and potted lilies, with mixed roses and clematis around the outside walls. There is a collection of old roses and small flowered clematis, and wild flowers line the front lawn by the ha-ha. The tennis court has been turned into a ‘boule a drome’ with four large beds, pretty wrought iron gates and a gazebo.
John Betjeman’s lived here and there is John Piper window in the church is in his memory.

The Old Rectory, Farnborough features

Location details

The Old Rectory,
Farnborough,
Wantage,
Oxfordshire,
OX12 8NX

Directions to The Old Rectory, Farnborough
Take B4494 from Wantage, after 4m turn L at sign for Farnborough. Follow NGS signs.

The Old Rectory, Farnborough openings

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Home-made teas.
Admission Adult: £7.00
Child: Free
Opening times 14:00-17:00

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Home-made teas.
Admission Adult: £7.00
Child: Free
Opening times 14:00-17:00

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Home-made teas.
Admission Adult: £7.00
Child: Free
Opening times 14:00-17:00

For this open day you can book your tickets in advance. Click on the yellow button below to book or you can just turn up and pay on the day.

Refreshments Home-made teas.
Admission Adult: £7.00
Child: Free
Opening times 14:00-17:00

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair access over gravel paths.
  • Share this garden

Other Gardens of Potential Interest

The Old Church Hall image
The Old Church Hall

This charming cottage garden embraces a relaxed and informal style, allowing many self-seeded varieties to flourish naturally. Colourful and...

Read more
Christmas Common Gardens image
Christmas Common Gardens

Sitting at one of the highest points of the Chilterns AONB, visitors to this picturesque area can explore 3 distinct gardens, each offering their own...

Read more
Priors Grove Cottage image
Priors Grove Cottage

Set on more than ½ an acre and bordered by woodland, this 6 yr old garden is focussed around a large wildlife pond and waterfall. Koi Carp are...

Read more
Archangel House image
Archangel House

Coming through the gate, admire beautiful hanging wisteria floating above. Further on, to the left a paved area bears bright pots and a rusty...

Read more
5 Centenary Road image
5 Centenary Road

A delightful, new build garden surrounded by stone walls. Two lawns divided by a central boardwalk, lined with topiary balls and Salix trees. A...

Read more
Copper Corners image
Copper Corners

A three acre wildlife friendly informal family garden backing onto farmland with the mill brook forming one boundary. Large front garden - mostly...

Read more
61 Cornish Road image
61 Cornish Road

Small residential garden created from scratch, consisting of shrubs, herbaceous/perennials and rose beds and borders with over 60 roses (shrubs,...

Read more
29 Corbett Road image
29 Corbett Road

Mixed variety garden on the edge of Carterton, with lawns, specimen trees, flower borders, raised vegetable beds, mixed hedging, gravel and grass...

Read more

Don’t miss out

Sign up to our weekly newsletter to hear more about the gardens opening for the National Garden Scheme, events and activities throughout the year

Sign up to our newsletter

FAQs

Yes, cashless payment is accepted.

Yes, coaches are accepted at The Old Rectory, Farnborough. Please get in touch with the owners for details.

Sorry, no dogs are allowed in the garden at this time.

Yes, there are various plants offerred for sale at The Old Rectory, Farnborough, please enquire with the owners for more details.

Yes, one or more routes at The Old Rectory, Farnborough are accessible to wheelchair users.

The Old Rectory, Farnborough is not explicitly a wildlife garden, but you may still find various indigenous flora and fauna.